Glock 26

Okay, I have another offer to purchase a pistol direct from the manufacturer through my employer. This time it is for a Glock 26, 9mm pistol. This is the so called 'Baby' Glock. It is going for $477, with 2 magazines and Trijicon (or is it Tritium?) night sights. This offer seems more tempting than the ones I can get through my job for a SIG or an HK. Why, well because both the SIG and the HK are offered only in a law enforcement configuration which means both have a double action only trigger pull, and that trigger pull is horrendous. At least on the Glock I have a choice of the 5 lb.or 8 lb. trigger pull. This beats the HK by at least 4 pounds, and by 7 pounds if I get the lighter of the two offered on the Glock.

The Glock I think is also the smallest of the three pistols I have been considering. It is also the least expensive. I have also carried a Glock 19 for about the past 15 years; man it has been a long time. I am very familiar with it, and have had no major problems with it in all that time. There have been magazine exchanges where Glock has sent new mags to my employer to replace old ones, but they took care of problem mag designs very well in that regard. They now seem to have gotten it right. I also probably have a few of my own spare Glock magazines around. They are usable in the Glock model 26.

Now of course, the Glock 26 does not come in .40 S&W caliber, it is a 9mm. That will have to do, as for some reason my job did not authorize a personally owned Glock 27 in .40 S&W to be carried. That is strange since the HK and the SIG have to be in .40 S&W. Go figure, but that is the goobermint. Despite that, I have to tell you, this one is really tempting. It would be a great gun for retirement if only because of its small size thus making it quite concealable. In addition, I shoot very well with it (I carried a model 26 as backup on my job for several years and shot better with it than with the larger model 19). Yep, I think this may be the one. I have scrimped, and saved, and sold things I already owned to gather the cash (and payday is Monday) toward the purchase of a new pistol, and I think I may have to act before they pull the deal or raise the price.

Now for the tough decision - Olive Drab or Black? Basic Black has always suited me in my Glocks, so I suppose I'll stick with it. Tomorrow I will fill out the order form and the required purchase letter from my office. I already did that for the HK, but trashed that letter once I saw the deal on the Glock 26. This is going to be the one - really - it is the one.

All the best,
Glenn B

Rapist/Killer Jose Ernesto Medellin Executed in Texas

It is about time that the United States of America allow its states to enforce their own laws regardless of so called International Law. It is about time we tell the world that when the scum of other nations come to our nation to commit heinous crimes such as murder and rape, they will be dealt with according to the laws of our nation and or of our states. It is about time that we realize we are a sovereign nation, and that international treaties, international law, and the United nations do not rule here. Sure we should follow international treaties, but first and foremost we need to protect our people, and we need to prosecute criminals to the full extent of our laws. If that means violating an international treaty, I say it is just and right. Others worry that the violation of international treaties will badly effect our citizens who visit other nations; the thing is though it will most likely only effect they of us who violate laws in other countries. Keep that in mind when you visit other nations, be on your best behavior while there.

Truthfully though, this case is not about a violation of international treaties. The fact of the matter is that the accused never once while his trial was ongoing, asked to be allowed to consult with the consular offices of Mexico. He only asked for that after convicted and sentenced to death - 3 years later. Why, because it was a lawyers' ploy to get him off, to to grant him a temporary reprieve. The Supreme Court of the United States did not think his case merited review. In fact the Supreme Court rules that neither the U.S. President or the International Courts can force Texas to review this man's case. "Chief Justice John Roberts wrote for a 6-3 majority that the international court's judgments cannot be forced upon individual states." (source of quote CNN, at: http://www.cnn.com/2008/CRIME/08/05/scotus.execution/index.html. In that light, Texas went ahead with his execution.

On August 5, 2008, at 9:57 PM, Jose Medellin was put to death, see:

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,398465,00.html.

The state of Texas proved his family wrong as they had said only God can take a life. I beg to differ, and so too apparently did Texas. It is God who gives life, but anyone can take it. It is sad how no one has ever heard Medellin's family protest the killing he committed by saying only God can take a life and condemning him, yet he took two lives after he first brutally raped the two young women girls, Elizabeth Pena, 16, and Jennifer Ertman 14, whom he killed. He is, or was, among the scum of the earth, and he got what was coming to him; and for that I say good riddance. It is sadder still how many in the world flocked to lend him, a heinous criminal rapist and murderer, to offer him support. Still though we have one less piece of shit murderer among us, and that my friends is a good thing.

I would like to give Mr. Medellin his due even though I do not consider him being owed much. I will grant that in the end he showed a bit of compassion for the families of the victims. He said this:

"I'm sorry my actions caused you pain. I hope this brings you the closure that you seek. Never harbor hate," (source: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,398465,00.html).

I don't think though that his sorrow can have done much to assuage the pain and suffering that the families endured over the past 15 years while waiting for justice to be done. I don't know if even Mr. Medellin's death can have done much to help them to find a true end to it all, there is no such thing as closure when you lose a loved one. Maybe though this will bring them closure in one regard, in knowing that yes justice can and will be done, their daughters have been avenged, that this man will not have the chance to ever do it again.

My heartfelt sympathy to the families of Elizabeth and Jennifer, and my sympathy to the family of Jose Medellin. Remember they lost a loved one too, and it was not they who committed the murder. As it has turned out, the one who was guilty has paid the price, and they need to understand that, but there is no need to condemn the living who had no hand in it. As for Jose Ernesto Medellin, again I say - he was the scum of the earth, good riddance to him.

All the best,
Glenn B